"Sony Computer Entertainment can confirm that Warrior’s Lair for PS Vita is no longer in development," a Sony representative told us. "We apologize to those who pre-ordered the title and ask that they contact their retailer directly to cancel their pre-sale."

The representative went on to say that, "The line-up of PS Vita first-party and third-party content remains strong with more than 85 titles scheduled to launch for the system by the end of 2013 including Killzone: Mercenary, Tearaway, Doki Doki Universe, Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate, Flower, The Walking Dead, and more."

Exit Theatre Mode

Question marks have surrounded Warrior’s Lair – previously known as Ruin – for quite some time. Idol Minds was the developer originally behind the project, but with rumors swirling that the studio had closed up, Sony San Diego was supposed to finish the game back in early 2012. When the game never showed up at E3 2012, it was assumed the game was in some trouble.

Warrior’s Lair was a significant game for Sony back in 2011. The company showed it off on-stage at E3 2011, wowing PlayStation gamers with the then-mysterious cross-play feature now well-known between PS3 and PS Vita. IGN even had extensive hands-on time with the game in the months before PlayStation Vita launched in Japan in December of 2011.

So there you have it. Warrior’s Lair, Vita’s bite-sized answer to Diablo, is no more.

Colin Moriarty is IGN’s Senior Editor. You can follow him on Twitter and IGN and learn just how sad the life of a New York Islanders and New York Jets fan can be.